Gentle Hands

Ren Nakamura was not scared of the truth.

At least, that's what he used to believe.

But as he sat there, staring at **Yuki Hoshino—**the girl who always smiled, always laughed, always seemed untouchable—

He realized.

He was terrified.

The Train Tracks – A Truth He Never Wanted to Hear

Yuki's hands were trembling.

Ren saw it now.

The slight shake in her fingers, the way she curled them into her sleeves like she was trying to hide it.

She always hid things well. Too well.

But not anymore.

Not from him.

"...Yuki."

Her breath hitched.

Ren never called her by her first name like that—so softly, so carefully, like he was afraid she would disappear.

"Please," he whispered. "Tell me the truth."

Yuki inhaled shakily. She didn't speak for a long time.

Then—quietly, carefully, like a confession meant for no one to hear—

"I'm sick, Ren."

Ren froze.

The world around them suddenly felt too quiet.

Like everything had stopped.

Like time itself was holding its breath.

"...What?" His voice came out raw.

Yuki forced a small smile. "I've been sick for a while. It's nothing too serious—"

"Don't." Ren's voice shook.

Yuki's eyes widened.

He clenched his fists. "Don't lie to me."

She hesitated.

Ren's stomach twisted.

"...How bad?" he asked, barely above a whisper.

Yuki lowered her gaze.

The way she wouldn't look at him.

The way her fingers curled around the hem of her sweater.

The way her smile didn't reach her eyes.

And that's when he knew.

It was bad.

His breath caught.

His mind screamed at him to move, to speak, to do something—

But all he could do was sit there, heart pounding, hands shaking.

"...Since when?" His voice was hoarse.

Yuki exhaled slowly.

"Since before I met you."

Ren felt like the ground had been ripped from under him.

Before she met him.

Before she had ever sat next to him.Before she had ever smiled at him.Before she had ever called his name.

All this time.

She had been carrying this alone.

"You knew," Ren muttered. "And you didn't say anything."

Yuki didn't answer.

And that silence was enough.

Ren shot up from where he was sitting, his breath uneven.

"So what, you were just going to pretend everything was fine forever?" His voice was rising now, anger, fear, confusion—all crashing into him at once.

"Ren—"

"Were you planning to tell me at all?" His heart was racing. "Or was I just supposed to find out when it was too damn late?"

Yuki flinched, gripping her sleeves.

Ren clenched his fists.

He hated this.

Hated that she had hidden this from him.Hated that he hadn't noticed sooner.Hated that she had been suffering, and he never knew.

"...I didn't want you to look at me like that," Yuki whispered.

Ren stopped.

Yuki was staring at the ground, her bangs covering her eyes.

"I didn't want you to worry," she continued. "I didn't want things to change. I just wanted…"

She swallowed hard.

"I just wanted to stay like this. With you."

Ren's heart ached.

"You idiot," he muttered, voice cracking.

Yuki looked up.

"You think I care about any of that?" Ren ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "You think I'd just walk away because of this?"

She bit her lip. "...Wouldn't you?"

Ren stiffened.

Yuki let out a soft, shaky laugh.

"People leave, Ren." She smiled—but it was the saddest thing he had ever seen. "That's just how it is."

Ren's chest tightened.

Because those words—they were his.

That was what he had always believed.That was what he had told himself every damn day.

But hearing Yuki say it—

Hearing her give up on people before they could give up on her—

It made him furious.

"...Not me."

Yuki's breath caught.

Ren stepped forward—slowly, carefully—

Until he was right in front of her.

Until she had nowhere left to run.

"I'm not leaving, Yuki." His voice was firm. Unshakable.

Yuki stared at him, wide-eyed.

"You don't get to push me away," Ren continued. "You don't get to decide that for me."

Her fingers trembled at her sides.

"Ren…"

"You're the one who told me I wasn't alone," he whispered. "So don't you dare act like you are."

Yuki's lips parted.

And then—she broke.

Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them.

Ren didn't hesitate.

He pulled her into his arms.

Yuki froze.

Then—slowly, hesitantly—

She clutched the fabric of his jacket, burying her face into his chest.

Ren felt her shoulders shake.

Felt the way she tried to keep herself together, even now.

And it made him hold on tighter.

Because for once—she didn't have to.

For once, she wasn't alone.

And neither was he.

Later That Night – Walking Her Home

The air was cold, but Ren barely felt it.

Yuki walked beside him, her hands still curled in the sleeves of his hoodie.

She had stopped crying, but her face was tired.

Ren sighed. "You should've told me sooner."

Yuki smiled faintly. "Would it have changed anything?"

Ren scoffed. "Dumbass. Of course it would."

Yuki blinked up at him.

Ren looked away, clicking his tongue. "I would've been there sooner."

Yuki's lips parted slightly.

Then—she smiled.

Soft. Real.

"Thank you, Ren."

He didn't answer.

But when she reached for his sleeve—just barely tugging at it—

He didn't pull away.

And in that moment, nothing else mattered.